The energy market is more volatile than ever. Tariffs fluctuate widely, imbalance prices rise rapidly and grid congestion increasingly forces companies to actively manage power. For greenhouse horticulture companies, this means that energy is no longer just a cost item, but a strategic steering instrument within the business.
NLight is actively responding to this with a direct integration between its LED luminaires and the energy management systems of DNO Energie and Enova. Through the Yieldr platform, growers can have their lighting automatically respond to real-time energy prices, imbalance signals or power control.
© Nlight
"The link between our LED luminaires, the DNO box and ENOVA does not only work on paper. The integrations are now active with two users in practice," said Joost van Rooij, Head of European Operations at NLight.
The integration has already been successfully implemented at EP Flora and Inca Orchids. The next installation is now planned at Hofland Flowering Plants, further scaling up the roll-out of dynamic energy control within the floriculture sector.
From energy price to light level - fully automated
DNO and Enova's systems continuously provide up-to-date market data. This information is linked to Yieldr, NLight's intelligent light management system.
Thanks to this link, users of NLight luminaires can use the advantages of the DNO and Enova boxes to make even smarter use of energy.
"The grower determines the strategy himself. At an energy price above a set value, the grower can dim LED to a certain percentage. At low market prices, the choice is to go to 100% lighting and at negative power prices, the grower can choose to use maximum power."
The system is set up so that the grower is completely in control of what happens at the different set points. "The user remains fully in control," Van Rooij stresses.
The control is fully automatic. No manual corrections and no delays. This makes lighting a dynamic link within the greenhouse's overall energy management.
Price vs. outside light vs. lighting strategy
Besides energy control, outdoor light level also plays a crucial role. NLight therefore offers an integrated PAR sensor that measures in real time how much natural light enters the greenhouse. This creates an intelligent triangle, Joost explains. "Energy price + Outdoor light level + Cultivation strategy = Optimal lighting control."
Specifically, he says, this means that at high energy prices and sufficient outdoor light, growers automatically dim their lights. At low energy prices, but little daylight, they can choose to maximise supplemental lighting. When prices are high, but the cultivation phase is critical, growers can choose to maintain a minimum strategic light level.
The PAR sensor ensures that the plant always remains central. Energy optimisation is never done blindly, but in combination with the actual light requirements of the crop.
"In this way, not only price is taken into account, but also photosynthetic efficiency per euro."
Maximum flexibility thanks to multi-channel technology
The NLight RV series is technically prepared for dynamic energy control. Depending on the model, the luminaires have several dimming channels and a dimming range of up to 10%.
The RV series comprises luminaires from 400 to 1600 W. There are single- and multi-channel versions and the lamps are fully controllable via climate computer or stand-alone via Yieldr. "Moreover, we offer very competitive pricing within the market," says Joost.
This flexibility allows the lighting to respond not only to plant needs, but also to economic conditions.
Strategic advantage in a volatile energy market
Linking DNO, Enova, the PAR sensor and NLight creates a concrete strategic advantage, Joost argues. Growers can actively control power peaks, move with market prices and imbalance market, dynamically respond to natural light, participate in flexibility services and optimise yields without compromising cultivation strategy. "Lighting thus becomes not only a cultivation tool, but also an energy optimisation tool."
The grower always maintains control over set bandwidths, minimum light levels and strategic limits. The plant remains leading, but within economically optimised frameworks.
HortiContact Gorinchem
NLight is present at the HortiContact in Gorinchem, on stand E18.
For more information:
NLight BV
Walerij 53
2211 SJ Noordwijkerhout
[email protected]
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